Characters

Queen of the Sun follows inspiring characters from all around the globe, many of whom are beekeeping keeping bees using natural and biodynamic methods. From Gunther Hauk in the United States to Massimo Carpinteri in Italy, each of these beekeepers has unique philosophical and spiritual insights into their bees and is striving to keep their bees safe from pesticides and other causes behind Colony Collapse Disorder. The experts interviewed in Queen of the Sun include New-York Times Bestselling Authors and Internationally renowned activists. If you are interested in interviewing or asking any of the people below speak at your event, please contact us here.

Biodynamic Beekeeper & Farmer
Gunther Hauk (The Honeybee Crisis: An Opportunity to Transform Destructive Agricultural Practices and Real Food for Thought and Stomach: An Introduction to Biodynamic Agriculture) is one of the central inspiring figures in Queen of the Sun. Gunther was a Waldorf teacher for 23 years and was co-founder of Spikenard Farm in 2006 and the Pfeiffer Center in... more

Author "Omnivore's Dilemma"
For the past twenty-five years, Michael Pollan has been writing books and articles about the places where nature and culture intersect: on our plates, in our farms and gardens, and in the built environment. He is the author of four New York Times bestsellers. The Omnivore’s Dilemma was named one of the ten best books of 2006... more

Physicist
“Shiva … has devoted her life to fighting for the rights of the ordinary people of India … her fierce intellect and her disarmingly friendly, accessible manner have made her a valuable advocate for people all over the developing world.” — Ms. Magazine

President, Slow Food International
Carlo Petrini is the President and Founder of the International Slow Food Movement. He first came to prominence in the 1980s for taking part in a campaign against the fast food chain McDonald's opening near the Spanish Steps in Rome. He is the author of many books including, Slow Food Nation: Why Our Food Should Be Good,... more

Biodynamic Beekeeper, Melissa Garden
Michael grew up on a farm in a tiny village in central Germany. He has been deeply influenced by the German biodynamic beekeeping movement and now teaches classes on natural and holistic beekeeping in the United States.
He lived and practiced for many years at San Francisco Zen Center: Zen and tended the bees at Green Gulch... more

Molecular Biologist, Goetheanum
Johannes is a molecular biologist on the staff of the Research Laboratory at the Goetheanum in Dornach, Switzerland. His current research projects include an effort to develop criteria for beekeeping that do not include chemical attacks against the varroa mite, which is proving so devastating to honey bees worldwide. He is also working on a qualitative assessment... more

Biodynamic Beekeeper
Jacqueline Freeman is a Biodynamic Beekeeper and Farmer and owner of Friendly Haven Rise Farm in Venersborg, Washington. She teaches natural beekeeping classes titled "Bees: The Other Way" and is a community swarm-rescuer.
www.friendlyhaven.com

Author “Stuffed and Starved"
Raj Patel is an award-winning writer, activist and academic. He has testified about the causes of the global food crisis to the US House Financial Services Committee and is an Advisor to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Food. In addition to numerous scholarly publications, he regularly writes for The Guardian, and has contributed... more

Entomologist
May Berenbaum is an entomologist and professor at the University of Illinois. May speaks in Queen of the Sun about the effects of pesticides on honeybees and also of the fear people have of bee stings. May has been a spokesperson for raising awareness of Colony Collapse Disorder, having appeared before Congress to present information on the crisis. She... more

Biologist, Xerces Society
Scott Hoffman Black is executive director of the Xerces Society, an international nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting the diversity of life through the conservation of invertebrates.
www.xerces.org

Biochemist and Biodynamic Beekeeper
Lured into beekeeping in 2003, when he gave a talk on genetically modified organisms to a local beekeepers' association, David soon looked into more bee-appropriate ways of keeping bees. After being introduced by Johannes Wirz to Émile Warré's natural comb hive in 2006, David and his wife translated Warré's L'Apiculture Pour Tous and published it as Beekeeping... more

Botanist, Hinewai Reserve
Hugh Wilson is the Manager of Hinewai Reserve, a private nature reserve on Banks Peninsula in New Zealand. He hand-writes and illustrates a newsletter about the reserve, Pīpipi, which the Trust publishes several times a year.

Author “Seeds of Deception”
The leading consumer advocate promoting healthier non-GMO choices, Jeffrey M. Smith, is the author of the world's bestselling and #1 rated book on the health dangers genetically modified organisms (GMOs). His meticulous research documents how biotech companies continue to mislead legislators and safety officials to put the health of society at risk, and the environment in peril.... more

Philosopher, Artist & Author
Horst Kornberger is a poet, writer, interdisciplinary artist, lecturer and researcher into the field of imagination and creativity. Horst is the director and founder of the School of Integral Art where he pioneers creative, biographical and story writing.
http://www.horstkornberger.com/